UNCASVILLE — The Connecticut Sun announced on Tuesday that veteran forward Asjha Jones suffered a rupture of her left Achilles tendon and is expected to miss the 2014 WNBA season.

Jones suffered the injury while playing for Spartak M.R. Vidnoje in Russia last week and is returning to the U.S. for surgery.

Jones sat out last season to tend to nagging injuries. A 2009 WNBA All-Star, Jones averaged 12.7 points and seven rebounds a game in 2012 despite missing 14 games with an Achilles strain.

“We are saddened to hear of Asjha’s injury,” Conneciuct Sun vice president and general manager Chris Sienko said. “She took off a considerable amount of time to nurse her injuries so it seems unfair. However, we know Asjha to be strong and determined and hopefully she will be afforded another opoortunity to play the game she loves in the future.”

Jones, who who won two national titles at UConn, was acquired from Washington in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2004 WNBA Drafft. She has played nine seasons for Connecticut and ranks second in team history in games played (271), points (3,336), rebounds (1,447) and field goals (1,398).

“I feel so badly for Asjha having to go through another Achilles injury,” Sun head coach Anne Donovan said. “She’s worked hard to overcome these injuries and this setback is disappointing to everyone.”

PREP BASKETBALL

St. Thomas More 95

Vanier College 67

OAKDALE — Cane Broome and Eric Paschall each scored 23 points in the Chancellors’ sixth victory of the season.

Yuta Watanabe added 18 points and 10 rebounds for St. Thomas More (6-2).

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Warriors ranked

WILLIMANTIC — The Eastern Connecticut State University men’s basketball team moved into the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll for the first time this season, ranked 22nd.

The Warriors (7-1) were one of only two new teams to join the poll this week and are one spot behind SUNY Purchase, which handed Eastern its only loss this season.